Screenwriting Myths & Facts: Part 8

True or False

True. Record the date, name of the company and what projects you pitched to them as well as their reactions.

With enough practice, you should be able to pitch any story of yours in one sentence

True.

If you sell a spec script, proceeds go into your Writers Guild Health and Pension fund

False. Only contracted sales, not spec sales, go into both funds.

Writers who pitch well are able to sell projects the first time they pitch to a company even if they’ve never pitched to them before

That’s false. It’s rare to sell anything the first time you pitch to a company.

Get the names of assistants and secretaries of companies you’re pitching to

True. Be polite and friendly to them so they’ll put you through to their boss.

When you contact people you want to be in business with, be persistent but not annoying

True.

Every company has an agenda that a writer coming in to pitch isn’t aware of

True. There are certain types of projects they are staying away from but you won’t know what they are.

There is more theft of material in the film business rather than in TV

False. The opposite is true.

Before any pitch meeting, call and find out exactly what kind of material they’re currently looking for

True.

Being a successful screenwriter is more about how good a writer you are rather than anything else

False. Your talent is important but so are your connections to the people who can get projects sold and produced.

About Steve Kaire

Steve Kaire is a screenwriter and "Pitchman" who has sold 8 projects to the major studios without representation. The last project he sold, he’s Co-Producing for Walden Media. A screenwriter for over 30 years, he holds a Masters in Dramatic Writing and has taught writing classes at the American Film Institute. Steve was featured on the Tonight Show’s, "Pitching to America" and was voted a Star Speaker at Screenwriters Expo three years in a row. His unique CD & Ebook, "High Concept - How to Create, Pitch & Sell to Hollywood" is a best seller. His website is: HighConceptScreenwriting.com.

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